[2] Gill was 36 years old, and a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:[3] On 27 July 1916 at Battle of Delville Wood on the Somme, France, the enemy made a very strong counterattack on the right flank of the battalion and rushed the bombing post after killing all the company bombers.

Sergeant Gill rallied the remnants of his platoon, none of whom were skilled bombers, and reorganised his defences.

Although it was almost certain death, Sergeant Gill stood boldly up in order to direct the fire of his men.

He was killed almost at once, but his gallant action held up the enemy advance.Gill is buried at Delville Wood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Somme, France.

[4] Gill's Victoria Cross is in the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection at the Imperial War Museum.